The SUNY Cortland baseball team earned its 11th trip to the NCAA Division III World Series and its fifth in eight years by defeating host Farmingdale State, 2-1, Saturday afternoon in the championship round of the New York Regional. The Red Dragons (39-7-1) will face Kean (pronounced Kane) University of New Jersey (37-10) during the opening day of competition Friday, May 25, at 1:15 p.m. (2:15 p.m. Eastern) at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, Wis. (near Appleton). The eight-team, double-elimination tournament runs until Tuesday, May 29.

Other first-round matchups Friday (all times local) are Webster University (Mo.) (35-12) versus Wheaton College (Mass.) (38-9) at 10 a.m., the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) (38-8) versus Christopher Newport University (Va.) (34-8) at 4:30 p.m. and defending national champion Marietta College (Ohio) (42-7) versus  Whitworth University (Wash.) (30-14-1) at 7:45 p.m. The Cortland-Kean winner and loser will match up with the Webster-Wheaton winner and loser, respectively, on Saturday.

The tournament features three schools that have won national titles previously. Marietta has won five national crowns (1981, 1983, 1986, 2006 and 2011), St. Thomas has won twice (2001, 2009) and Kean has won once (2007). In addition, Marietta has been a six-time national runner-up, most recently in 2002, St. Thomas has placed second twice (1999, 2000), Cortland has finished second twice (2005, 2010), and Wheaton (2006) and Christopher Newport (2003) have each been national runner-up once.

Cortland and Kean have played only once previously, and that meeting was also in the first round of the World Series. The Cougars defeated the Red Dragons, 4-1 in 12 innings, on their way to the 2007 national title.

Cortland’s 11 World Series appearances are the most by any Division III school over the past 20 years. In addition to their national second-place finishes in 2005 and 2010, the Red Dragons also finished third in both 1997 and 1998, fourth in 2007 and tied for fifth in 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Cortland, led by 13th-year head coach Joe Brown, was seeded first in the six-team New York Regional. The Red Dragons opened with a 7-6 win over Castleton State (Vt.), followed by a 7-2 win over Misericorida (Pa.). The Red Dragons then defeated Farmingdale on consecutive days, 4-2 and 2-1, to win the regional title.

Four Red Dragons were named to the New York Regional All-Tournament Team. Junior designated hitter Andrew Pezzuto (Hastings) was named the regional’s Most Outstanding Player. Sophomore catcher Tim Panetta (Mount Kisco/Fox Lane) and junior pitchers Mike Hughes (Albany) and Ray Angelucci (Commack) were also on the all-tournament team.

NCAA Championship Page
NCAA Interactive Bracket
(all games will be webcast on NCAA.com)

NCAA Division III Baseball World Series
May 25-29, 2012; Fox Cities Stadium; Grand Chute, Wis.

FRIDAY, MAY 25 (All times Central)
Game 1 - 10 a.m. - Webster University (Mo.) (35-12) vs. Wheaton College (Mass.) (38-9)
Game 2 - 1:15 p.m. - SUNY Cortland (39-7-1) vs. Kean Univ. (N.J.) (37-10)
Game 3 - 4:30 p.m. - Univ. of St. Thomas (Minn.) (38-8) vs. Christopher Newport Univ. (Va.) (34-8)
Game 4 - 7:45 p.m. - Marietta College (Ohio) (42-7) vs. Whitworth Univ. (Wash.) (30-14-1)

SATURDAY, MAY 26
Game 5 - 10 a.m. - Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2
Game 6 - 1:15 p.m. - Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4
Game 7 - 4:30 p.m. - Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
Game 8 - 7:45 p.m. - Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4

SUNDAY, MAY 27
Game 9 - Noon - Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 7
Game 10 - 3:30 p.m. - Winner of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 8
Game 11 - 7 p.m. - Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8

MONDAY, MAY 28
Game 12 - Noon - Loser of Game 11 vs. (Winner of Game 9 or Winner of Game 10)
Game 13 - 3:30 p.m. - Winner of Game 11 vs. (Winner of Game 9 or Winner of Game 10)

TUESDAY, MAY 29

(if 2 teams remain)
Game 14 - 11 a.m. - Winner of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 13
Game 15 - 2:30 p.m. - (If necessary) Same teams as Game 14

(if 3 teams remain)
Game 14 - 11 a.m. - Winner of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 13
Game 15 - 2:30 p.m. - Winner of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 14